• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • Lifestyle
  • What's On
‘We were days away from death’ – Birmingham leukaemia survivors tell their stories

‘We were days away from death’ – Birmingham leukaemia survivors tell their stories

September 3, 2020
How you can now order an electric classic Range Rover

Jobs on offer as electric Range Rover manufacturer doubles its workforce

March 5, 2021
Recruitment drive for consultancy PJA and more appointments news

Recruitment drive for consultancy PJA and more appointments news

March 5, 2021
Emma Willis urges son Ace to keep ‘experimenting and expressing himself’

Emma Willis urges son Ace to keep ‘experimenting and expressing himself’

March 4, 2021
Fewer than 200 new Covid cases confirmed again today – here’s where

Fewer than 200 new Covid cases confirmed again today – here’s where

March 4, 2021
Wetherspoons announces opening times, dates and menu changes for Cheltenham pub

Wetherspoons announces opening times, dates and menu changes for Cheltenham pub

March 4, 2021
Tesco is making a controversial change to every one of its meat aisles by 2025

Tesco is making a controversial change to every one of its meat aisles by 2025

March 4, 2021
What we know so far about Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena return

What we know so far about Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena return

March 4, 2021
Bishop’s Cleeve midfielder Freddy Ward clocks up 320 miles in February charity challenge for Sue Ryder

Bishop’s Cleeve midfielder Freddy Ward clocks up 320 miles in February charity challenge for Sue Ryder

March 4, 2021
Coventry City Ricoh Arena update and what it means for Birmingham City

Coventry City Ricoh Arena update and what it means for Birmingham City

March 4, 2021
New Starbucks coffee shop to open in Oadby with freebies for the first 100 customers

New Starbucks coffee shop to open in Oadby with freebies for the first 100 customers

March 4, 2021
‘Performance to forget’ – National media verdict on Aston Villa’s defeat to Sheffield United

‘Performance to forget’ – National media verdict on Aston Villa’s defeat to Sheffield United

March 4, 2021
The Big Feastival 2021 line-up revealed as festival to go-ahead

The Big Feastival 2021 line-up revealed as festival to go-ahead

March 4, 2021
  • Contact
Friday, March 5, 2021
  • Login
Midlands Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Sport
  • What’s On
No Result
View All Result
Midlands Lifestyle
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘We were days away from death’ – Birmingham leukaemia survivors tell their stories

by Midlands Lifestyle Team
September 3, 2020
in News
0
‘We were days away from death’ – Birmingham leukaemia survivors tell their stories
63
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Two young Birmingham women have revealed how they were “just days away from death” when they were struck down with leukaemia.

Both were told they had the killer disease but thanks to the NHS and modern medicine, survived.  They are now backing a new campaign to help people spot the signs of blood cancer.

Across the West Midlands around 740 people are diagnosed with leukaemia every year. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and national charity Leukaemia Care has launched its Spot Leukaemia campaign to make people aware of everyday ailments which could be a symptom of the disease.



Sarah Hollender, as she is today after treatment
(Image: Leukaemia Care)

Sarah Hollender from Great Barr was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at the age of 37.

The mum-of-two visited her doctor after a month of tiredness which saw her going to bed every night at 8pm and suffering breathlessness.

But it was a blood test her GP carried out to find out why she was having chronic irregular heavy periods that diagnosed leukaemia.  He rang Sarah late at night and urged her to go to hospital immediately.

Sarah said: “‘On admission to Heartlands hospital, the doctors couldn’t believe I was still standing and believed I was days away from death.

“I immediately had to have two blood transfusions – it was all a bit of a blur. The type of AML I had gave me a poor prognosis.

“I fell into a bit of a depression and longed to go home. I kept the curtains around my bed closed and deterred visitors.”

Initially Sarah’s treatment wasn’t a success and she was told her only chance of survival was a stem cell transplant. Fortunately, her brother was a match and in December 2018 Sarah had the transplant.



Sophie Wheldon, after she beat leukaemia
(Image: Leukaemia Care)

Following that, Sarah was extremely ill and contracted fungal pneumonia and numerous bacterial infections. 

She was also vomiting so much from the chemotherapy she burst blood vessels in her eyes and suffered a deep vein thrombosis. She also had ulcers and inflammation in her throat, which left her unable to speak or swallow, and she lost her fingernails and her hair.

But incredibly, Sarah pulled through and is now in remission and back at work.

“As bad it was at the time, I look back now and feel so lucky. All the staff were all absolutely amazing, and really gave me the best possible treatment,” she said.

“I never doubted that I was in great hands. My husband and friends, family and work colleagues were all amazing. I was shocked how everyone pulled together for me.

“The little things meant so much: having a friend to hold my hand as they shaved my head, my coffees and cakes, friends of friends sent small gifts and I had messages of support from people I hadn’t seen for years. It all meant so much.” 

During the pandemic, because of her health conditions she was in the extremely vulnerable group and had to shield during lockdown.

She said she was backing the Spot Leukaemia campaign because she had initially dismissed her symptoms as “minor ailments”.

“Individually, my symptoms started as fairly minor ailments and I just didn’t connect them together. It wasn’t until they got so bad that I thought they could be related to something serious,” she said.

“My symptoms were so classic of leukaemia, I think if I had been aware my diagnosis would have been earlier.”

Another survivor who at first dismissed her symptoms is student Sophie Wheldon from Chelmsley Wood.

She was just 20 when she started to experience headaches and neck pain. Because of her age, doctors initially suspected meningitis, so it came as a shock when Sophie was diagnosed with B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

She underwent chemotherapy and was then told her only hope of a cure was a stem cell transplant.



Sophie Wheldon, during treatment
(Image: Leukaemia Care)

Sophie says: “‘It was the worst time of my life. I was in so much pain and was ill all the time. It was horrible.”

But despite receiving the transplant, Sophie’s leukaemia returned and doctors gave her the shock news that she was terminally ill.

However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel for Sophie when doctors gave her “one last option”.

Sophie, now aged 21, became the first person in the West Midlands to have a new ground-breaking treatment called Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell therapy, or CAR-T for short. 

It was a complete success and Sophie is in remission, although still living with the long term effects of her leukaemia.

“I still experience side effects from treatment to this day, including weakness, chemo brain, fatigue and immunosuppression,” she said.

“I went back to university and I have just finished my final year of my undergraduate degree, and I am going back in October to do a masters in haematology to help others like me in the future.”

What are the six most common symptoms of leukaemia:

  • Fatigue (Feeling unusually tired) 
  • Bruising or bleeding
  • Bone or joint pain
  • Fever or night sweats
  • Sleeping problems
  • Feeling breathless

Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, from Leukaemia Care said, “Leukaemia is a blood cancer, affecting people of all ages, but it can be difficult to spot. The #SpotLeukaemia campaign seeks to empower members of the public to be able to talk to GP about their suspicions. 

“Almost 10,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with a leukaemia, but the vast majority of these are diagnosed in an emergency setting, such as A&E. 

“If you have more than one of the common symptoms, contact your GP and request a blood test.”

More information on the Spot Leukaemia campaign can be found at SpotLeukaemia.org.uk



Source link

Tags: BirminghamDaysdeathleukaemianewsstoriessurvivors
Share9Tweet6
Midlands Lifestyle Team

Midlands Lifestyle Team

Categories

  • Arts & Culture (69)
  • Lifestyle (126)
  • News (1,181)
  • Sport (866)
  • What's On (897)
  • Contact

Copyright © 2020 Midlands Lifestyle

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Sport
  • What’s On

Copyright © 2020 Midlands Lifestyle

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In